Packaging

Abstract

A container ( 12 ) suitable for use in packaging pharmaceutical products such as tablets and capsules. The container ( 12 ) can be withdrawn from a box or sleeve ( 14 ) in a first direction X to a fully extended position whereby a user can remove any item stored by the container ( 12 ). The container ( 12 ) has a base ( 32 ) which includes an end portion ( 40 ) that remains substantially within the box or sleeve ( 14 ) when in the fully extended position. The base ( 32 ) carries at least one chamber formation ( 42 ) for containing an item to be removed by the user. The base ( 32 ) also has at least one stabilizing formation ( 44 ) on the end portion ( 40 ) that interacts with the box or sleeve ( 14 ) when in the fully extended position to resist pivoting of the container ( 12 ) relative to the box or sleeve ( 14 ). The or each stabilizing formation ( 44 ) differs in size and/or shape to the or each chamber formation ( 42 ), and has a length in the first direction X that is greater than or equal to its width in a second direction Y. The second direction Y is substantially orthogonal to the first direction X across the base ( 32 ).

1. A package comprising first and second containers slidably housed within a box or sleeve;
 the package being arranged such that the first container can be removed from a first end of the box or sleeve, and the second container can be removed from an opposed second end of the box or sleeve; 
 the first and second containers each carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by a user; 
 each container having opposed first and second ends, and the second end of each container having a cut-out portion, the cut-out lying between opposed blisters or other stabilising formations at that end of the container; 
 the package having a closed position in which the first and second containers are both housed substantially within the sleeve, with the first container overlying the second container and the cut-out portions of the respective containers being located at opposite ends of the box or sleeve, wherein 
 when the package is in the closed position, the cut-out portion of the first container defines a pull region at the first end of the second container, and the cut-out portion of the second container defines a pull region at the first end of the first container; 
 the pull regions enabling a user to grasp the first container without grasping the second container and vice versa. 
 
     
     
       2. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out of each container is located substantially centrally with respect to the width of the associated end of its container, the stabilising formations of its container comprising first and second supporting blisters spaced apart from each other towards corners of that end. 
     
     
       3. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the size and orientation of the stabilising formations of each container is chosen so that they interact with the box or sleeve to stabilise the container when fully extended from the sleeve in a position in which a major portion of the container extends from the box or sleeve, and a minor portion of the container is retained substantially within the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The package of  claim 1 , wherein each stabilising formation of the containers differs in size and/or shape to the or each chamber formation of its associated container; and each stabilising formation has a length in the first direction that is greater than or equal to its width in a second direction, the first direction corresponding to a direction of withdrawal of the associated container from the box or sleeve, and the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction across the base. 
     
     
       5. The package of  claim 1 , wherein each container takes the form of a blister pack with blisters defining the chamber formations. 
     
     
       6. The package of  claim 3 , wherein the majority of each supporting blister remains within the box or sleeve when the associated container is in the fully extended position. 
     
     
       7. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the containers are belt-driven. 
     
     
       8. The package of  claim 1  wherein the containers are attached to a belt of the box or sleeve such that pulling one container out of one end of the box or sleeve causes the other container to move out of the other end of the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The package of  claim 1  wherein at least one container comprises an aperture for the insertion of a fingertip of a user. 
     
     
       10. A package comprising first and second containers slidably housed within a box or sleeve;
 the package being arranged such that the first container can be removed from a first end of the box or sleeve, and the second container can be removed from an opposed second end of the box or sleeve; 
 the first and second containers each carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by a user; 
 each container having opposed first and second ends, and the second end of each container having a cut-out portion located substantially centrally with respect to the width of the end, and first and second supporting blisters spaced apart from each other towards corners of the end, the size and orientation of the supporting blisters being chosen so that they interact with the box or sleeve to stabilise the container when fully extended from the sleeve in a position in which a major portion of the container extends from the box or sleeve, and a minor portion of the container is retained substantially within the box or sleeve; 
 the package having a closed position in which the first and second containers are both housed substantially within the sleeve, with the first container overlying the second container and the cut-out portions of the respective containers being located at opposite ends of the box or sleeve, wherein 
 when the package is in the closed position, the cut-out portion of the first container defines a pull region at the first end of the second container, and the cut-out portion of the second container defines a pull region at the first end of the first container; 
 the pull regions enabling a user to grasp the first container without grasping the second container and vice versa. 
 
     
     
       11. A package comprising a container and a tab member slidably housed within a box or sleeve;
 the package being arranged such that the container can be removed from a first end of the box or sleeve, and the tab member can be removed from an opposed second end of the box or sleeve; 
 the container carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by a user; 
 the container having opposed first and second ends, and the second end of the container having a cut-out portion, the cut-out lying between opposed blisters or other stabilising formations at that end of the container; 
 the package having a closed position in which the container and tab member are both housed substantially within the sleeve, with the container overlying the tab member; wherein, 
 when the package is in the closed position, the cut-out portion of the container defines a pull region of the tab member, 
 the pull region enabling a user to grasp the tab member without grasping the container. 
 
     
     
       12. The package of  claim 11  wherein the tab member is a second container carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by a user. 
     
     
       13. The package of  claim 11  wherein the tab member is substantially flat. 
     
     
       14. The package of  claim 13  wherein the tab member is printed with information concerning the items within the container. 
     
     
       15. The package of  claim 11  wherein an information leaflet is attached to the tab member. 
     
     
       16. The package of  claim 11 , wherein the cut-out of the container is located substantially centrally with respect to the width of the associated end of the container, with stabilising formations of its container comprising first and second supporting blisters spaced apart from each other towards corners of that end. 
     
     
       17. The package of  claim 11 , wherein the size and orientation of the stabilising formations of the container is chosen so that they interact with the box or sleeve to stabilise the container when fully extended from the sleeve in a position in which a major portion of the container extends from the box or sleeve, and a minor portion of the container is retained substantially within the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       18. The package of  claim 11 , wherein each stabilising formation of the container differs in size and/or shape to each chamber formation of the container; and each stabilising formation has a length in the first direction that is greater than or equal to its width in a second direction, the first direction corresponding to a direction of withdrawal of the associated container from the box or sleeve, and the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction across the base. 
     
     
       19. The package of  claim 11 , wherein the container takes the form of a blister pack with blisters defining the chamber formations. 
     
     
       20. The package of  claim 16 , wherein the majority of each supporting blister remains within the box or sleeve when the container is in the fully extended position. 
     
     
       21. The package of  claim 11 , wherein the container and the tab member are belt-driven. 
     
     
       22. The package of  claim 11  wherein the container and the tab member are attached to a belt of the box or sleeve such that pulling the tab member out of one end of the box or sleeve causes the container to move out of the other end of the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       23. The package of  claim 11  wherein the container or tab member comprises an aperture for the insertion of a fingertip of a user. 
     
     
       24. A belt driven package comprising a box or sleeve, a tab member, a belt, and a container suitable for withdrawal from a first end of the box or sleeve in a first direction to a fully extended position whereby a user can remove any item or items stored by the container,
 the belt extending between a first end and a second end of a belt path, wherein the tab member and the container are attached to the belt such that the container is driven by the belt to move out of the first end of the box or sleeve when the tab member is moved out of an opposed second end of the box or sleeve; 
 the container comprising a base carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by the user; 
 the package being arranged such that an end portion of the base is retained substantially within the box or sleeve when in the fully extended position; 
 the base having at least one stabilising formation on the end portion that interacts with the box or sleeve when in the fully extended position to resist pivoting of the container relative to the box or sleeve; and 
 the or each stabilising formation having a length in the first direction that is greater than or equal to its width in a second direction, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction across the base; 
 the container having opposed first and second ends, and the second end of the container having a cut-out portion, the cut-out lying between opposed blisters or other stabilising formations at that end of the container; and 
 the package having a closed position in which the container and tab member are both housed substantially within the sleeve, with the container overlying the tab member wherein: 
 when the package is in the closed position, the cut-out portion of the container defines a pull region of the tab member, the pull region enabling a user to grasp the tab member without grasping the container. 
 
     
     
       25. The package of  claim 24  wherein the tab member is a second container carrying one or more chamber formations for containing items to be removed by a user. 
     
     
       26. The package of  claim 24  wherein the tab member is substantially flat. 
     
     
       27. The package of  claim 24  wherein the tab member printed with information concerning the items within the blister pack. 
     
     
       28. The package of  claim 24  wherein an information leaflet is attached to the tab member. 
     
     
       29. The package of  claim 24 , wherein the cut-out of the container is located substantially centrally with respect to the width of the associated end of the container, the stabilising formations of its container comprising first and second supporting blisters spaced apart from each other towards corners of that end. 
     
     
       30. The package of  claim 24 , wherein the size and orientation of the stabilising formations of the container is chosen so that they interact with the box or sleeve to stabilise the container when fully extended from the sleeve in a position in which a major portion of the container extends from the box or sleeve, and a minor portion of the container is retained substantially within the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       31. The package of  claim 24 , wherein each stabilising formation of the container differs in size and/or shape to the or each chamber formation of the container; and each stabilising formation has a length in the first direction that is greater than or equal to its width in a second direction, the first direction corresponding to a direction of withdrawal of the associated container from the box or sleeve, and the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction across the base. 
     
     
       32. The package of  claim 24 , wherein the container takes the form of a blister pack with blisters defining the chamber formations. 
     
     
       33. The package of  claim 29 , wherein the majority of each supporting blister remains within the box or sleeve when the container is in the fully extended position. 
     
     
       34. The package of  claim 24  wherein the container or tab member comprises an aperture for the insertion of a fingertip of a user. 
     
     
       35. The package of  claim 10 , wherein the container is opposed to a substantially flat tab member housed within the box or sleeve. 
     
     
       36. The package of  claim 10 , wherein the container is opposed to a second container comprising a blister pack housed within the box or sleeve.